Fort Smith Airport

CYSM / YSM

Fort Smith, CA

Last Updated
Jul 4, 22:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
22:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
4 kt
40°
15 SM
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYSM 042200Z 04004KT 280V080 15SM BKN120TCU BKN260 25/06 A2970 RMK TCU6CI1 SLP063 DENSITY ALT 2300FT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 671 ft
BKN 12,000 ft AGL (TCU)
BKN 26,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN (TCU)
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,671 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
26,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
26,671 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Fort Smith Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (40°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 12,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Showers Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain, FCST. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 15 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 20:00Z and 04:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 20:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
984 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (671 ft)
Pressure Alt
889 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,250 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF CYSM 041744Z 0418/0506 18008KT P6SM SCT060 TEMPO 0418/0420 P6SM -SHRA VCTS FEW050CB BKN060 FM042000 19008KT P6SM SCT060 TEMPO 0420/0504 P6SM -SHRA BKN060 PROB30 0420/0504 VRB15G25KT 5SM TSRA BKN050CB FM050400 VRB03KT P6SM -SHRA SCT015 OVC040 TEMPO 0504/0506 4SM SHRA BR PROB30 0504/0506 VRB15G25KT 3SM TSRA OVC015CB RMK NXT FCST BY 050000Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 8 kt
Visibility: >6SM
04:00Z FM050400
+6h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
04:00Z TEMPO
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 4SM
Showers Rain, Mist
04:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR VRB 15 kt
Visibility: 3SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, FCST

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
YSM
03 ✈️
21
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 03
1,800 ft 100 ft COM 41°
3.9 kt 0.7 kt
10° angle
12/30 6,000 ft 100 ft ASP 131°
0.1 kt 4.0 kt
91° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYSM

7,951 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
68.5%
MVFR
19.5%
IFR
10%
LIFR
1.9%

Fort Smith Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 68.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 6.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from -46°C to 58°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, March, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 6.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 25 kt
Calm Winds: 8.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.7%
N
13.2%
S
11.1%
W
12.7%
NE
7.9%
NW
14.8%
SE
19.4%
SW
6%

Temperature Range

Average: -6.7°C
Range: -46°C to 58°C
-46°C 58°C

Visibility

Average: 12.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.8%

Best Months for VFR

May March April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 7,951 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Fort Smith Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYSM
IATA Code: YSM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 671 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Smith
Country: CA
Latitude: 60.020302°
Longitude: -111.961998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 1,800 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: COM
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Fort Smith Airport

Overview

Fort Smith Airport serves the community in northwestern Canada, located at 60.020302, -111.961998 with an elevation of 671 ft MSL. As a medium airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure in a remote region, supporting regional transportation and potentially resource industry operations in the Northwest Territories.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Fort Smith demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 57.8% of the time. Temperature extremes range dramatically from -46°C to 58°C, with an average of -8.9°C, presenting challenging environmental conditions for pilots. Winds predominantly come from the southeast at an average of 6.4 knots, with occasional gusts up to 25 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways: a 1,800 ft COM runway (03/21) and a 6,000 ft ASP runway (12/30), providing operational flexibility. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components of 4.9 kt and 3.1 kt respectively. Visibility averages 12.3 statute miles, with occasional reduced conditions including 4.5% of observations below 3 SM and 1.5% fog presence.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal considerations are critical, with September, January, and December offering the most consistently favorable VFR conditions. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) occur 17% of the time, with MVFR and IFR conditions combining for 38.7% of observations. Pilots should prepare for potential weather transitions and maintain currency in instrument procedures given the variable climate.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.